Morales v. McCraw

District Court, S.D. Illinois

Morales v. McCraw

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

DANIEL MORALES, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) Case No. 19-CV-00560−SMY ) NICHOLAS MCCRAW, ) ) Defendant. )

ORDER DISMISSING CASE YANDLE, District Judge: Plaintiff Daniel Morales filed this action for alleged deprivation of his constitutional rights pursuant to

42 U.S.C. § 1983

. (Doc. 1). At the time the Complaint was filed, Morales was incarcerated in East Moline Correctional Center. (Id.). Morales was advised that he is under a continuing obligation to keep the Court informed of any change in his address and that failure to comply could result in dismissal of this action for want of prosecution. (Doc. 3). Pursuant to Local Rule 3.1(b), notification to the Court of any address change shall be made in writing no later than seven days after a change in address occurs. On July 8, 2019, Morales notified the Court of a change in address. (Doc. 9). Documents were subsequently mailed to Morales at the address provided but were returned as undeliverable on October 21, 2019 (Doc. 16) and December 9, 2019 (Doc. 19). On December 16, 2019, the Court issued an Order for Morales to show cause on or before December 30, 2019 why this case should not be dismissed for failure to comply with a court order and to prosecute his claims. (Doc. 21). The Order advised Morales that his failure to respond would result in dismissal of the case pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). (Id.). Morales did not respond to the Order and he has not participated in this action since filing his notice of change of address on July 8, 2019. The Court will not allow this matter to linger indefinitely. Accordingly, this action is DISMISSED without prejudice for failure comply with court orders and for failure to prosecute. FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b). The dismissal does not count as a strike within the meaning of

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(g). Plaintiff is ADVISED that his obligation to pay the

filing fee for this action was incurred at the time the action was filed, thus the filing fee of $350.00 remains due and payable. See

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(b)(1); Lucien v. Jockisch,

133 F.3d 464, 467

(7th Cir. 1998). If Plaintiff wishes to appeal this Order, he must file a notice of appeal with this Court within thirty days of the entry of judgment. FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(1)(A). A motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis must set forth the issues Plaintiff plans to present on appeal. See FED. R. APP. P. 24(a)(1)(C). If Plaintiff chooses to appeal, he will be liable for the $505.00 appellate filing fee irrespective of the outcome of the appeal. FED. R. APP. P. 3(e);

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e)(2); Ammons v. Gerlinger,

547 F.3d 724, 725-26

(7th Cir. 2008); Sloan v. Lesza,

181 F.3d 857, 858-59

(7th Cir. 1999); Lucien,

133 F.3d at 467

. Moreover, if the appeal is found to be without merit, Plaintiff may

incur a “strike” under

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(g). A proper and timely motion filed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) may toll the 30-day appeal deadline. FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(4). A Rule 59(e) motion must be filed no more than twenty-eight (28) days after the entry of the judgment, and this 28-day deadline cannot be extended. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to close this case and enter judgment accordingly. IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 17, 2020 s/ Staci M. Yandle_________ STACI M. YANDLE United States District Judge

Reference

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